Eyelash profiler

ABSTRACT

A printed template and method for using the template are illustrated for evaluating various characteristics of eyelashes and categorizing the eyelashes accordingly. The template has one edge portion suitable for placement adjacent an eyelid under eyelashes. The edge portion is provided with indicia representing known eyelash characteristics such as density, thickness, length or color. The indicia on the template are placed adjacent actual eyelashes such that a visual comparison can be made between the eyelashes and the indicia. By comparing the eyelashes to the indicia, a user can more objectively determine the measurements and characteristics of the eyelashes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a device and method for gauging andprofiling the physical characteristics of eyelashes, such as, forexample, the density, thickness and length of eyelashes. In particular,the device facilitates the determination of an individual user's eyelashcharacteristics so that the user can, for example, select a mascaraapplicator and mascara product suitable for those eyelashcharacteristics.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Mascara, an important part of the contemporary cosmetic arsenal,is available in many different formulations, with varying viscosity,solvents, fiber content, pigments, etc. Applicators for coatingeyelashes with mascara also are available in many differentconstructions and styles, e.g., brushes with varying bristle lengths,density and properties, disk applicators, etc. There is also greatvariety in the characteristics of human eyelashes, e.g., thickness(diameter) of individual lashes, density (number of lashes permillimeter), length of lashes, etc. Because of this diversity ineyelashes, mascara products and product applicators, it is oftendifficult for consumers to choose a product and applicator best suitedfor their particular eyelash characteristics. Consumers often do notknow objectively what relative eyelash characteristics they may have,and thus what products would be suitable for those eyelashcharacteristics. So mascara products and product applicators arecommonly selected by trial and error.

[0005] Devices for aiding in the application of mascara to eyelashes arewell known. Such devices are disclosed in, for example, in U.S. Pat.Nos. 3,884,232, 1,873,928, 1,907,476, 1,974,825, 3,789,856, 2,260,614and 4,033,364. These devices are said to be useful in preventingsmudging or mis-application of eye makeup. However, none of thesedevices provide any means or method for profiling the particular eyelashcharacteristics of a user.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides a convenient and inexpensivedevice for profiling eyelashes. A template is provided with indicia onone edge portion. The indicia represent known eyelash characteristics.To gauge the particular characteristics of a person's eyelashes, a userplaces the indicia under the eyelashes and visually compares theeyelashes to the indicia. By visual observation, a user can convenientlyand objectively determine, for example, if the eyelashes have a greateror lessor thickness, length and density relative to the known meanmeasurements represented by the indicia. This information along withsecondary information provided to the consumer by way of the templatemay be used by the consumer to select the appropriate mascara formulaand/or product applicator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the invention;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[0009]FIGS. 3-6 are plan views of alternative embodiments of theinvention; and

[0010]FIG. 7 is a view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 positioned foruse.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, a device or template 2 forprofiling eyelashes is illustrated that consists of a sheet 4 having atop surface 6, a bottom surface 8 and at least one edge portion 10 at afirst end 12 of the sheet 4. The edge portion 10 is dimensioned forplacement near an eyelid proximal to the base of a user's eyelashes. Bythis, it is meant that the edge portion is preferably dimensioned toapproximate the width of a human eye. In the preferred embodiments shownin FIGS. 1-4 and 7, this is accomplished by providing the sheet 4 withan overall width from a side 14 to a side 16 that approximates the widthof a human eye. In addition, at least one side 20 or 22 of the edgeportion 10 may be tapered to better accommodate the shape of an eyelidand surrounding anatomy, e.g., the bridge of the nose, and to minimizesharp angles that could irritate a user. Where the width of the sheetfrom side 14 to side 16 is greater than the approximate width of a humaneye, the edge portion 10 may be positioned adjacent to one of side 14 orside 16, as illustrated by the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, for example.In other words, the edge portion 10 is positioned at or close to onecorner of the sheet 4, so that the edge portion 10 can be placed nearthe eyelid without interference from the bridge of a user's nose.Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, the edge portion 10 isinwardly curved to cooperatively register with the convexly curvedanatomy of the eyelid as illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0012] First indicia 18 are provided on at least one of the top surface6 or the bottom surface 8 in the edge portion 10. The indicia arecomprised of individual lines, some of which are curved, that mimic theappearance of actual eyelashes as closely as can be accomplished in aflat representation (i.e., in two dimensions). The indicia 18 aredimensioned to gauge at least one eyelash characteristic, such as, forexample, the thickness of individual lashes, the density of theeyelashes, the length of the eyelashes, or the color of the eyelashes.In particular, the indicia simulate known characteristics of differenttypes of eyelashes, allowing a user to visually compare actual eyelasheswith the indicia to determine relatively objectively what thecharacteristics of the actual eyelashes are. For example, adult humaneyelashes commonly range in thickness (i.e., diameter of individualeyelash shafts) from about 0.05 mm to about 0.20 mm, in length fromabout 2 mm to about 15 mm, and in density (i.e., the number of lashesper centimeter) from about 10 lashes per cm to about 30 lashes per cm.In FIG. 1, the indicia 18 may represent, for example, a mean diameter of0.10 mm, a mean length of 10 mm and a mean density of 20 lashes per cmfor adult humans. By placing the template 2 under eyelashes 21 as shownin FIG. 7 and visually comparing the actual eyelashes 21 to the meandimensions represented by indicia 18 in FIG. 1, a user can convenientlyand objectively determine, for example, if the actual eyelashes 21 havea greater or lessor thickness, length and density relative to the knownmean measurements represented by indicia 18. In FIG. 7, the eyelashes 21illustrated are approximately the same thickness and length as theindicia 18, but are of a lessor density than the indicia 18. This isreadily apparent as the actual eyelashes 21 illustrated only overlapapproximately half of the representative indicia 18. Thus, by visualobservation, it can be determined that the illustrated eyelashes 21 aremedium thickness, medium length lashes having a sparse density. Thisinformation can then be used to select, for example, a mascara formulaand product applicator suitable for such eyelash characteristics.

[0013] With respect to color, by providing indicia on an edge portion ina particular shade of human hair color, e.g., blonde, brunette, black,auburn (red) or gray, the shade of actual eyelashes can be relativelyobjectively determined by comparison with the colored indicia. Thisinformation can be used, for example, to select a suitable shade ofmascara.

[0014] To better quantify the characteristics of actual eyelashes,rather that providing only one edge portion 10 with mean characteristicdimensions as described above, two or more edge portions can beprovided, each with different known eyelash characteristics to compareto actual eyelashes. For example, a first template 2′ may be providedwith an edge portion 10′ having indicia 18′ (FIG. 3) representingminimum eyelash dimensions, and a second template 2″ may be providedwith an edge portion 10″ having indicia 18″ (FIG. 4) representingmaximum eyelash dimensions. Thus, indicia 18′ on template 2′ wouldrepresent a thickness of 0.05 mm, a length of 2 mm and density of 10lashes per cm, and indicia 18″ on template 2″ would represent athickness of 0.20 mm, a length of 15 mm and density of 30 lashes per cm.By placing in consecutive steps the templates 2′ and 2″ under eyelashesand visually comparing the eyelashes to the minimum and maximumdimensions represented by indicia 18′ and 18″, a user can determine thecharacteristics of the eyelashes relative to those minimum and maximumdimensions. While the foregoing example illustrates the method ofevaluating and characterizing eyelashes with two templates 2′ and 2″, itwill be understood that any number of templates, each having indiciarepresenting different known eyelash characteristics or dimensions, canbe used to evaluate eyelashes. In the foregoing illustration, forexample, template 2 (FIG. 1) having indicia 18 representing mean eyelashdimensions could be used to further categorize and classify thecharacteristics of the eyelashes being evaluated. It will also beunderstood that more than one edge portion may be provided to a singletemplate 2, as illustrated for example in FIGS. 5-6 showing edgeportions 10 and 10″. While it is contemplated that more than one edgeportion 10, 10″ with indicia can be provided on a single sheet 4 asshown for example in FIGS. 5-6, for sanitary reasons the preferredembodiment shown in FIG. 1 has only one edge portion. This avoidscontamination of an eye by contact with an edge portion 10′ that haspreviously been contaminated by contact with a user's fingers or anothereye.

[0015] The template 2 may further include second indicia 25, 27 (FIGS. 1and 7) on at least one of the top surface 6 or the bottom surface 8,positioned such that it does not interfere with the eyelashprofiling/gauging first indicia 18. The second indicia 25, 27 providesupplemental information such as, for example, a product logo ortrademark 27, product promotional information, product or applicatorrecommendations for various eyelash characteristics, a website addressfor more information, etc. The supplemental information provided in thesecond indicia can generate substantial interest in the device, thussignificantly increasing its appeal and desirability.

[0016] The template 2 can be readily and economically produced fromcommonly available paper or paperboard sheet stock printed with commonlyavailable inks and trimmed in well known processes. Preferably, thesheet stock is of sufficient thickness, and the trim and finish stepsare selected, to avoid sharp edges that could cut or irritate the eye orthe sensitive skin of the eyelid. Also, the sheet stock and any inks ordyes used to color or print on the template 2 should be bio-compatibleto avoid irritation or injury to the user.

[0017] As described above and illustrated in FIG. 7, the method forprofiling eyelash types comprises the steps of providing an edge portion10 of a sheet with indicia 18 representing at least one selected eyelashcharacteristic; placing the edge portion 10 under eyelashes 21 such thatthe eyelashes can be compared to the indicia 18; and visually comparingthe characteristics of the eyelashes to the indicia to determine theeyelash profile of the eyelashes relative to at least one eyelashcharacteristic represented by the indicia.

[0018] Alternatively, the method for profiling eyelash types comprisesthe steps of providing on a first sheet a first edge portion with firstindicia representing at least a first selected eyelash characteristicvalue; providing on the first sheet or on a second sheet a second edgeportion with second indicia representing at least a second selectedeyelash characteristic value different from the first eyelashcharacteristic value; placing the first edge portion under eyelashessuch that the eyelashes can be compared to the first indicia, andvisually comparing the characteristics of the eyelashes to the firstindicia; removing the first edge portion and placing the second edgeportion under eyelashes such that the eyelashes can be compared to thesecond indicia, and visually comparing the characteristics of theeyelashes to the second indicia; and determining an eyelash profile forthe eyelashes based on relative similarity to or differences with thefirst indicia and second indicia. In the alternative method, the firstedge portion 10 and the second edge portion 10″ may both be on the sametemplate (see, for example, 2″′ and 2″″ in FIGS. 5-6), or the first edgeportion 10 and second edge portion 10″ may be on separate templates(see, for example, 2 and 2″ in FIGS. 1 and 4, respectively).

[0019] The advantages of the present invention are readily apparent. Thetemplate of the present invention provides a baseline by which consumerscan relatively objectively determine the characteristics of theireyelashes. This information can then be used to select a mascara productand/or product applicator best suited for the user's eyelashcharacteristics. With this information, the user and the productmarketer can minimize or totally avoid the undue burden and expense oftrial and error experimentation.

[0020] Furthermore, because of the simple structure of the template 2,and because it is made by well known processes from readily availablematerials, the cost of producing the template 2 is extremely low. Whilethe cost is low, the template 2 serves the important function toconsumers of profiling lashes to aid in selection of suitable makeupproducts. Additionally, the template may provide secondary productinformation. Thus, the template may be used as an important marketingand promotional tool. With simple construction and low production cost,the template is ideally suited for a single use, disposableapplications, thus facilitating hygienic and sanitary conditions in, forexample, a retail setting such as a cosmetic sales counter. The low costalso makes it possible for the template to be used very effectively as apromotional tool that can be distributed to consumers for free alongwith product information or a marketing or other message. In addition toretail distribution points, such as cosmetic sales counters, thetemplate can readily be distributed in well known promotional channels,such as, for example, direct mail promotions, magazine and newspaperinserts, inserts in the packaging of related cosmetic products, etc. Thesimplicity and excellent function of the invention would even permitdistribution as a downloadable and printable image on a website. Aninterested consumer could print the image, and with a pair of scissorstrim excess paper from the perimeter of the image to yield a functionaltemplate.

[0021] While the invention has been described and illustrated asembodied in preferred forms of construction, it will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement ofthe parts without departing from the spirit and the scope of theinvention recited in the following claims.

1. A template for profiling actual eyelashes comprising: a sheet havinga top surface, a bottom surface and at least one edge portiondimensioned for placement near an eyelid proximal to the base of theactual eyelashes; and first indicia on at least one of the top surfaceor the bottom surface adjacent the edge portion, the first indiciadimensioned to represent and gauge at least one actual eyelashcharacteristic selected from a thickness, a density, a length and acolor of actual eyelashes.
 2. The template of claim 1 wherein the edgeportion is inwardly curved to cooperatively register with the convexshape of an eyelid.
 3. The template of claim 1 further comprising secondindicia on at least one of the top surface or the bottom surface, thesecond indicia providing supplemental information.
 4. The template ofclaim 1 wherein for at least one of the thickness, the density and thelength of eyelashes, the indicia represent a value for a selectedeyelash characteristic.
 5. The template of claim 4 wherein the value forthe thickness of eyelashes is in the range of from about 0.05 mm toabout 0.20 mm.
 6. The template of claim 4 wherein the value for thedensity of eyelashes is in the range of from about 10 lashes per cm toabout 30 lashes per cm.
 7. The template of claim 4 wherein the value forthe length of eyelashes is in the range of from about 2 mm to about 15mm. 8-11. (cancelled)